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The schedule today is, in full honesty...glorious. Here's the SBN link if you need some info from the college team, but here are the big ones:
#14 Georgia Tech at #8 Notre Dame (3:30pm ET, NBC)
Time for the NFL world to start thinking about Georgia Tech QB Justin Thomas. Thomas led the Ramblin' Wreck to an 11-3 record in head Coach Paul Johnson's triple option offense throwing for more than 1,700 yards and running for more than 1,000 as well accounting for 26 touchdowns in all. Bear in mind, this is the program that gave us WRs like Calvin Johnson and Demaryius THomas (yes, and Stephen Hill...). Is it time Paul Johnson's GT sends us a QB?
Meanwhile, let's not kid outselves. ND is stacked with much more NFL talent. Left tackle Ronnie Stanley is a legit candidate for the #1 overall pick of the 2016 NFL Draft as of today. Rams fans who may be looking for a long-term center solution should Tim Barnes not work out will want a look at Nick Martin. Junior wideouts Corey Robinson and William Fuller are NFL prospects. Of course, all eyes will be on QB DeShone Kizer who is taking over for an injured Malik Zaire.
College Football Week 3
College Football Week 3
#18 Auburn at #13 LSU (3:30pm ET, CBS)
Too much NFL talent to cover. I'll point at Auburn WR D'haquille Williams only because it makes too much sense for #WarDamnRams.
LSU, as always, is a mess of defense, WRs, RBs, the occasional offensive lineman and a black hole at QB. LSU threw the ball 14 times and ran it 47 times in their season-opening win over Mississippi St. You could argue they got pass happy. And if you don't think Jeff Fisher is going to be tempted to draft LSU RB Leonard Fournette...
South Carolina at #6 Georgia (6:00pm ET, ESPN)
South Carolina's in a bit of a reload year starting just nine seniors. And no, S T.J. Gurley is not related to Rams RB Todd. They're the kind of team (and prospect list) that should grow into next year. Tough to see many stars now, but I could see standouts here in a year's time.
UGA's much more 2015-ready. And while football fans may be looking at their Oct. 3 cross-division game against Alabama, they'll need to handle this business first. Then again, when you can replace Todd Gurley with Nick Chubb, you're doing something very right. Of course, we have to acknowledge Georgia OC Brian Schottenheimer here...Rams fans might want to catch this one just for Schottey.
Stanford at #6 USC (8:00pm ET, ABC)
USC's riding a two-game winning streak, and this one looks to extend that to three. Much like the Gamecocks, the Cardinal's in between years. QB Kevin Hogan's lost some luster, but he should have fans for the 2016 NFL Draft. He's just light on targets.
The Trojans are appropriately stacked, as per usual. They have bigger challenges to come, but this is a good first barometer. Rams fans may enjoy a look at C Max Tuerk. He's got starting experience at every position on the line, but was installed at center for 2014 and stays there again this year flanked by plus sophomores in the guard spots. The real young star, though, might be WR Juju Smith-Schuster.
#15 Ole Miss at #2 Alabama (9:15pm ET, ESPN)
Now we're talking. The Ole Miss combo of LT Laremy Tunsil, WR Laquon Treadwell and DT Robert Nkemdiche could form a trio of 1st rounders next spring, though Tunsil's possibly still watching this one on the sideline for keeping a loaner car too long while his own car was in the shop (yay, NCAA!). They were built to compete in 2015, but some solid play from former QB Bo Wallace turned things up early last year. Now with Clemson transfer QB Chad Kelly, nephew of Buffalo Bills great Jim Kelly, Ole Miss is looking for a big win to propel them through a soft schedule in the next month and toward late October SEC action.
Alabama is Alabama. You know the deal. Do their prospects get overrated early? Probably. Do they get overdrafted? Possibly. Will we be talking about potential Rams coming out of Bama in February. Damn skippy.
#19 BYU at #10 UCLA (10:30pm ET, FOX Sports 1)
For BYU, it's all narrative. Senior QB Taysom Hill, originally considering playing for Jim Harbaugh at Stanford way back when and after breaking his leg last year, suffered a Lisfranc injury in the season opener two weeks ago. Freshman backup Tanner Mangum came in and played the hero role in a last second Hail Mary to beat Nebraska. A week later, the Cougars downed Boise St. on another late come from behind win. They could splash in future drafts, but this is a young, young team. For now, it's all narrative.
For UCLA, the expectations are rising. They handled their first two opponents with ease behind the performance of freshman QB Josh Rosen. Prospect-wise, eyes will be on OLB/RB/SUPER Myles Jack. DT Kenny Clark looks the part. This is also an incredibly young team with just three starting seniors, so expect some growth among their underclassmen throughout the year.
Hell of a Saturday. Enjoy it, Rams fans!
